Jane Smith, 29, passed away at her family home in Bourton Close, Tilehurst, with her father John, mother Rose, partner Chris Hannington and sister Wendy by her side on Thursday, July 17.

Her funeral was held on Friday, July 25, at Henley Road crematorium and her ashes were interred on Thursday last week at Pangbourne Hill cemetery.

Characteristically the ever-cheerful Jane had asked mourners not to wear black at her funeral and had chosen the service arrangements herself, including the song played - Constantly by Cliff Richard.

Jane had been receiving treatment at the Berkshire Cancer Centre having been diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago.

When she heard Macmillan Cancer Relief was launching a £1.2 million campaign to raise cash to refurbish the centre at Royal Berkshire Hospital, she jumped at the chance to support the appeal.

Jane wrote such a vivid and humorous account of her treatment that she was asked to speak at the launch of the appeal at Madejksi Stadium in May.

Jane made a memorable speech and in the Evening Post the next day her story was told in full to encourage people to give to the appeal.

She said her first reaction when she heard she had a malignant lump in her breast was "I can't have cancer - I'm too young.

"I decided there and then to treat this illness as an inconvenience for the next few months."

Jane was unflaggingly brave through her mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, confessing that her worst fears were realised when she lost her hair.

Her hospital wig fitting was her one "major low point" but she immediately nicknamed her wig Cyril.

Jane's whole family rallied behind the appeal and were all at the launch to see her speech. Her father John 59, made a particularly moving contribution when he submitted the diary he kept during her treatment.

Extracts were published in the Evening Post to show how the whole family had been affected by Jane's illness. He wrote: "We never expected to see our daughter go through such harrowing times."

He also described a heartrending moment when he stroked his little granddaughter Amy's hair and reflected on the way Jane, Amy's aunt, was losing her hair.

He wrote: "It was a moment I'll carry to my dying day... such contrasting emotions I had never felt possible. Joy at holding Amy and guilt at not being able to help Jane, whose golden silky hair I had stroked when she was a baby."

Jane's family made a statement on Thursday after the interment at a church Jane chose for her final resting place. They said: "Having Jane home for the last but very special days of her life meant the world to us.

"The love she had for us, knowing we were all together caring for each other, will be a treasured time for us all. To the end, Jane's love, courage and bravery stayed with her and will never be forgotten."

The family have sent their thanks to people who cared for her at Royal Berkshire Hospital, especially her breast care nurse Lynn Buttery.

And they are determined to go on fundraising for the Macmillan Berkshire Appeal in Jane's name.

Rose asked that Jane's motto, used at her funeral, should end this story.

"When it is time to leave this world some day, the only thing you get to keep is what you give away."

n There will be a donation form for the appeal in Friday's Evening Post.